Dismal rehabilitation in predominantly type II diabetics on dialysis in Inner-City Brooklyn

In order to define their demographics and medical conditions, 218 diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis in Brooklyn were interviewed and their charts reviewed.

Patient rehabilitation was assessed with the Karnofsky score, and the urea reduction rate as well as serum albumin and hematocrit levels evaluated adequacy of hemodialysis.

The majority of patients (167) were African-American, 25 were Whites, 19 patients were Hispanic and 6 were Asian. One patient was a Native American. The mean age was 60.5 years (range 16-88), and the majority, 52%, were women. Rehabilitation was poor, the mean Karnofsky score being 65.1+/-20.8, and only 6% of patients were working. By linear regression, there was no difference in the Karnofsky score according to gender, age, race, type of diabetes, education, family income or hematocrit level. Only the patients' self-perception of their psyche function, or how well they thought they were doing, was significant.

Further work is needed to examine the reasons for the poor rehabilitation of diabetics on dialysis in Brooklyn.